Washing machine



Dec. 17, 1929. REMPE 1,740,437

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1927 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES JACOB E; REMPE, F DANVILLE, ILLINOIS WASHING MACHINE Application filed August 8, 1927. Serial No. 211,483.

The purposes of the invention are: to provide improved means whereby the gyrator of the washing machine may be accurately centered and may be easily removed for the purpose of cleaning the tub; to provide improved means whereby all water may be easily removed from the tub thereby avoiding the accumulation of dirt and suds on the bottom of the tub; to provide improved means whereby a floating rubber or dolly may be easily and quickly substituted for the gyrator in the tub; to provide a cover and an improved arrangement of doors such that upon raising a main door free access may be had to the interior of the tub, and upon raising an auxiliary door additional articles may be placed in the tub without stopping the operation of the machine.

With these ends in view the invention con sists in the novel features of construction and combinations of parts shown in'the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top view of a washing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the machine taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the machine taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a floating dolly usable in the machine without change in the structure of the other parts of the machine.

Similar reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

ll have shown a cylindrical tub but it is obvious that a tub of another and different form may be used without departure from my invention.

The cylinder 6 is of sheet metal and has a Hat bottom Thaving a central opening 8; a

metal tube 9, the bore of which is in. registry with the opening 8, is secured on the bottom 7, by bolts 13; a lateral outlet pipe 10, is connected with the pipe 9, and is provided with a removable plug 12; a screw 14 engaging in screw threads in the lower part of the tube 9. has a cone point 15; a round shaft 16 has a depression 17 in its lower end to receive the cone point 15. The cone point keeps the shaft so that it will rotate truly on a vertical 543 axis and the screw serves to raise or lower a square socket 21 to receive a square shaft and has in its lower part a round socket 22 to receive the round shaft 16. A rivet 23 secures the socket member 20 on the shaft 16; a square shaft 24 is adapted to fit snugly in the socket 21 so that when the parts are assembled the axis of the shaft 24 will be in line with the axis of the shaft 16 so that both shafts will rotate without wobbling. A'pin 25 extends through the shaft 24 and limits upward sliding of the shaft through a central opening 48 in the hub 49. v

The cover comprises stationary members 27 and 28; a main door 29 connected with the cover member .27 by hinges 30; and an auxiliary door 31 connected with the door 29 by hinges 32 in such manner that the door 31 may be opened without disturbing the door 29,' to permit placing articles in the tub while the machine is running; but upon raising the main door 29 the auxiliary door 31 will be raised with it thus affording free access to the interior of the tub.

The main shaft 16 may be actuated by any suitable means such for example as an electrio motor 33 carrying a pulley 34 connected by a belt 35 with a wheel 36 fixed on a shaft 37 carrying a gear 38 meshing with a gear 39 and a shaft 40 carrying a crank plate 41.

An upright lever 42 is mounted to oscillate on a pivot 43 on a bracket 44 secured on the tub. A connecting rod 45 connects the lever 42 with the crank plate 41; the upper end of the lever 42 is pivotly connected with a rack bar 46 the teeth of which mesh with a cog gear 47 which actuates the shaft 24.

In the hub of the'guide block 49 is a central opening 48 in which the shaft 24 is free to 1 slide and oscillate. A suitable handle 50 at the upper end of the shaft 24 is used to manipulate the shaft to raise the doors 29 and 31 whenever it is desired to remove or insert the gyrator 18, or to place in the tub large articles which are to be washed, or to substitute 3% the dolly shown in Fig. 4, for the gyrator 18. Small articles may be inserted, or water may be supplied upon opening the auxiliary door 31 without'ralsing the main door 29. Under some conditions of. use it is desirable to retract the gyrator and substitute the dolly. In that case the shaft 24 will be pulled up ward to open both the doors 29 and 31, the

rator will then be removed and the floating dolly will then be placed on the shaft 24 v and used in the usual manner.

The dolly of preferable construction comprises a circular wooden body 51; smoothly turned and rounded rubbing members 52, fixed in the body 51, spread apart downwardly and adapted to spread and rub the fabrics which are being washed; and a socket block 53 secured on the body 51 and having a square socket 54 adapted to receive the square shaft 24.

To substitute the dolly for the gyrator the handle 50 will be pulled upward to cause the opening of the doors 29 and 31; the gyrator will then be removed; the connecting pin 25 will then be withdrawn from the shaft 24; the dolly will be placed on the shaft 24 and will be secured on the same shaft 24 by the same pin 25.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine the combination of a tub; a tubular extension extending downwardly from the bottom of the tub and adapted to contain liquid; an outlet pipe extending outwardly from said tubular extension; a removable plug closing the-free end of said outlet pipe; a screw threaded plug closing the lower end of said tubular extension and having a cone point; a shaft rotative on the cone point of said screw plug; a gyrator secured on said shaft; and means for oscillating said gyrator shaft.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of: a tub adapted to contain liquid ;'a central tube extending downwardly from the bottom of the tub and receiving liquid from the tub; an adjustable screw-plug engaging threads in the lower part of said tube; a central conebearing supported on said screw-plug,lubricated by the liquid in the tube, vertically adjustable within said tube by turning said plug, and removablefrom the tube by unscrewing said plug; an outlet pipe adapted to I discharge the liquid from said tube whereby to empty said tub and said tube; a'removable vertical shaft rotatively supported on the cone-bearing in said tube, and having a coupling member at its upper end; and a retrac- I tive rotative shaft adapted to engage said coupling member to turn said removable shaft.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of: a tub adapted to contain liquid; a central depending tube forming a bearing chamber below the bottom of the tub and receiving liquid freely from said tub; a discharge pipe adapted to discharge the liquid from said tub and from said bearing chamber; a removable thrust and guide bearing in said bearing chamber, adjustable vertically, and

lubricated by the liquid in said chamber; a removable, vertical lower shaft in said tub, extending downwardly in said depending tube, and having its support on said bearing; a retractive, vertical upper shaft, above and coaxial with said lower shaft, extending through the lid of said tub and having a lift ing handle; and a separable coupling adapted to connect said upper and lower shafts together when the retractive upper shaft is in its down position, and'adapted to disconnect said shafts when the retractive upper shaft is lifted. V

In witness whereof I have signed my name at Danville, Illinois, this 1th day of August,

, JACOB E. REMPE. 

